EP473: Ruth Milligan - Building Influence Through Better Words

Listen to this episode from The Successful Bookkeeper on Spotify. “Speaking requires feedback. We have to listen to ourselves. We have to listen to each other and give feedback in order to get better. Speaking is social.” -Ruth Milligan Ruth Milligan, founder of Articulation and curator of TEDxColumbus, dives into how better communication leads to better business — especially for bookkeepers and business owners who want to be more clear, confident, and effective. In this episode, you’ll learn… The hidden cost of unclear communication How to fix filler words, jargon & “shaded habits” How to explain complex topics without dumbing them down To learn more about Ruth, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 02:14 – Helping people own their voice & ideas 02:53 – From speechwriter to TEDx coach to business owner 05:47 – What’s a “threshold concept” in speaking? 07:30 – Speaking is social: your audience decides the meaning 09:30 – Why technical experts lose audiences 14:35 – Bookkeepers: Your audience isn’t in your field 15:15 – The pain (and power) of watching yourself speak 17:43 – The power of feedback & self-awareness 20:30 – Emails that confuse vs. emails that get results 23:00 – Declarative vs. procedural knowledge 25:00 – Training clients: Why reschedules are your problem 34:18 – Using AI for voice notes & speech prep 37:28 – The risks of AI hallucinations with real content 41:23 – A direct takeaway for introverts: Watch your “shaded habits” 43:07 – What you don’t know can hurt your influence 45:48 – Breath: the simple fix for filler word 55:29 – Valuing yourself & your time This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Hub Analytics! Imagine having all your financial data in one place, with real-time analytics and customized reports at your fingertips. Hub Analytics is a financial platform that streamlines bookkeeping operations, so you can focus on what really matters—delivering high-quality results for your clients. With Hub's easy-to-use tools, you’ll save time, reduce errors, and gain deeper insights into your clients' financials! Ready to take your bookkeeping to the next level? Book a demo to learn more and start your FREE trial TODAY!